Construction began Wednesday on new public restrooms off of Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach.

The Downtown Redevelopment Corp. on Wednesday approved spending an additional $19,000 to build the restrooms in the alley between Ocean Boulevard and Withers Alley in downtown Myrtle Beach, between 10th and 12th avenues North, also known as CanAm Alley.

The restrooms will cost $230,000 to construct, up from the $211,375 originally budgeted for the project. The solitary bid from Georgetown-based Consensus Construction came in at nearly $350,000, but DRC and city staff negotiated the price down, DRC executive director David Sebok said.

“Re-bidding it and redesigning it, we weren’t going to get anything any better or get a better offer,” Sebok said.

Sebok suggested the permanent restrooms during last year’s DRC retreat and worked with the city’s Cultural and Leisure Services to determine the best location that would allow them to replace the restroom trailer at Plyler Park.

The trailer in Plyler Park has three stalls – one for men, one for women and for handicapped use. Once a permanent restroom is in use the trailer in Plyler Park would be refurbished and placed in another downtown location that will be determined later.

Another trailer at Eighth Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard also will be refurbished, but remain where it is, Sebok said.